Northwestern
8th Big Ten7-5
Vanderbilt
11th SEC2-10
Northwestern @ Vanderbilt preview
Vanderbilt Stadium
These two programs seem headed in opposite directions.
Northwestern, 8-5 last year under coach Pat Fitzgerald, has a chance to move up in the Big Ten pecking order and reach a third straight bowl for the first time in its history. Vanderbilt went 2-10 in coach Bobby Johnson's last season, falling back to the bottom of the SEC heap after the novelty of several competitive seasons and a bowl appearance.
New Vandy coach Robbie Caldwell, promoted from offensive line coach after Johnson's July retirement, has a tough task right from the start. Northwestern is coming off a season in which it upset No. 4 Iowa and No. 16 Wisconsin and took Auburn to overtime in the Outback Bowl. Vandy's only wins were over Western Carolina and Rice.
Vandy does have one of the nation's most electrifying players in tailback Warren Norman, last year's SEC Freshman of the Year. He returned three kickoffs for touchdowns and set an SEC freshman record with 1,941 all-purpose yards. But only 783 of those yards came on running plays as the offense struggled, and the Commodores averaged just 16 points a game. One reason was the lack of production by quarterback Larry Smith, who's back in the starting role for his junior year. He threw for just 1,126 yards and four touchdowns with seven interceptions before a season-ending injury in the ninth game.
Teams ran at will against the Commodores last year and may do so again unless some newcomers step up. Vandy needs immediate help from its strong recruiting class, and Caldwell has says he may play as many as 14 freshmen. The leaders on defense are junior middle linebacker Chris Marve, who led the team with 121 tackles in 2009; junior cornerback Casey Heyward (58 tackles, 8.5 for loss, 2 interceptions) and junior strong safety Sean Richardson (84 tackles).
Northwestern brings a potent spread-based passing attack. Senior quarterback Dan Persa moves into the starting job after backing up Mike Kafka, who threw for 3,430 yards last year. There's no obvious feature back among a crew that averaged only three yards a carry, but the whole offensive line returns.
The Wildcats' defense had been steadily improving, but the unit lost a lot of talent after holding opponents to 129 rushing yards a game last season. The secondary was hit hardest by graduation, but the linebacking corps is good hands with leading tacklers Quentin Davie and Nate Williams returning.
Playing at home, the Commodores will be inspired to win for their popular new coach. But the Wildcats are simply better and should leave Nashville with a hard-fought win.
Northwestern, 8-5 last year under coach Pat Fitzgerald, has a chance to move up in the Big Ten pecking order and reach a third straight bowl for the first time in its history. Vanderbilt went 2-10 in coach Bobby Johnson's last season, falling back to the bottom of the SEC heap after the novelty of several competitive seasons and a bowl appearance.
New Vandy coach Robbie Caldwell, promoted from offensive line coach after Johnson's July retirement, has a tough task right from the start. Northwestern is coming off a season in which it upset No. 4 Iowa and No. 16 Wisconsin and took Auburn to overtime in the Outback Bowl. Vandy's only wins were over Western Carolina and Rice.
Vandy does have one of the nation's most electrifying players in tailback Warren Norman, last year's SEC Freshman of the Year. He returned three kickoffs for touchdowns and set an SEC freshman record with 1,941 all-purpose yards. But only 783 of those yards came on running plays as the offense struggled, and the Commodores averaged just 16 points a game. One reason was the lack of production by quarterback Larry Smith, who's back in the starting role for his junior year. He threw for just 1,126 yards and four touchdowns with seven interceptions before a season-ending injury in the ninth game.
Teams ran at will against the Commodores last year and may do so again unless some newcomers step up. Vandy needs immediate help from its strong recruiting class, and Caldwell has says he may play as many as 14 freshmen. The leaders on defense are junior middle linebacker Chris Marve, who led the team with 121 tackles in 2009; junior cornerback Casey Heyward (58 tackles, 8.5 for loss, 2 interceptions) and junior strong safety Sean Richardson (84 tackles).
Northwestern brings a potent spread-based passing attack. Senior quarterback Dan Persa moves into the starting job after backing up Mike Kafka, who threw for 3,430 yards last year. There's no obvious feature back among a crew that averaged only three yards a carry, but the whole offensive line returns.
The Wildcats' defense had been steadily improving, but the unit lost a lot of talent after holding opponents to 129 rushing yards a game last season. The secondary was hit hardest by graduation, but the linebacking corps is good hands with leading tacklers Quentin Davie and Nate Williams returning.
Playing at home, the Commodores will be inspired to win for their popular new coach. But the Wildcats are simply better and should leave Nashville with a hard-fought win.